2006 Toyota Sienna Review: A Great Year For The Reliable High Quality Minivan

Alex Showalter

Apr 21, 2022

The 2006 Sienna lasts over 300,000 miles with only some steering rack and power door issues. At $5,600 – $6,325 it’s expensive but worth it for one of the best used vans available.

The Good

The engine outlasts the competition, efficiency is great and there’s all wheel drive available.

The Bad

There’s a lot of road noise, suspension is overly soft and braking distances are long.

Is the 2006 Toyota Sienna a Good Used Van?

Yes, 2006 is a good year. Owners like the Sienna’s comfortable seats, spacious cabin, and affordable maintenance costs.
Reliability ratings are great. There are transmission problems on the 2007–2008 models, making them ones to avoid.
Performance is average from the single V6 engine offered.
The Sienna is a safe van getting 4 out of 5 stars in government crash tests. It also offers adaptive cruise control on the highest model.
Fuel economy is good at up to 19 MPG combined.

Positive Owner Reviews

Angela T

It is reliable and very roomy for up to 7 people!.

I love the roominess of the van. I love the affordable maintenance as well. Great choice for our family of 5!.

Sherry P

It is my favorite color blues, and I count at least 13 cup holders.

My vehicle has 250, 000 plus miles and runs great. It is loaded with everything possible in 2006, so has more features than I will probably discover and use. It will need some work in 10, 000 miles or so, but that is to be expected. It is very comfortable, with plenty of room for my grandchildren.

Hayley A

It is extremely reliable.

My van is very spacious and perfect for a large family. It has all the important features that I need, and has lasted a long time with minimal maintenance needed.

Sasha B

Toyota Sienna are great family cars!

Problems: check engine light comes on more than usual so the O2 sensors have to keep getting fixed. Now I have to get the catalytic converter fixed which is thousands of dollars. Just had a recall in 2017 with the gear shift being loose. Sometimes the sliding doors won't lock into place upon opening. It's a great family car. The kids will love the space. It performs pretty well. The driving handles are good. There's a CD player, Aux cable input, A/C controls for front and rear. You can fade the radio to front or rear. There is a place for a garage opener.

Lisa W

Jeep Cherokee best deal around.

We bought our 2003 Jeep Cherokee as a first car for our son. It has been very dependable. The gas. Miles are not so good. The car is solid and does really well on the ice and snow. This is my 3rd Jeep Cherokee and it's a nice color blue. 188000 miles on it. We replaced the stereo very easily.

Catherine W

It allows for so much versatility in hauling people and things.

I love the fact that it can carry my children plus their friends. The ability to adjust the seats for more storage is amazing. I also greatly appreciate the safety features.

Liz T

Seats fold flat for easy hauling

It's a great car, easy to drive, reliable and easy to maintain. Lots of room for hauling people and stuff.

M R

It is very reliable. We plan to keep it for a very long time.

I love my Toyota van. It is very comfortable. It has given us no problems at all. It is very reliable.

Negative Owner Reviews

C. Smith

Problem after problem

Pros: 7 passenger vehicle; stow away seating Cons: Experienced many issues I have never encountered/heard of before with any previous cars I have owned. By far the worst purchase I have ever made. Truly dislike Toyota’s service department. Cannot figure out how this vehicle has such a high rating...

Jessica a

The amount of gas it goes through.

The sliding door doesnt work sometimes. Only one sliding door is automatic. Horrible on gas.

Adrian G

It has fuel and oil and might be a uncomfortable ride. It is a older minivan now. The mileage is not reliable.

It is very old and contains plenty of miles. Have storage space and runs alright. It has used leather seats and a 7-passenger vehicle. A problem will be how I can manage to buy me another car and get rid of that one.

Sam P

Great van for someone who likes them.

There isn't any problems with the van. The van itself is great, very reliable. Plenty of room for the kids. Took it on a road trip to Iowa, and Wisconsin from Florida, and had no problems. The DVD was a plus. I am just not a vain person so I do not like the vehicle, it's more of a preference then anything wrong with the car.

Jennifer O

The vehicle has been crashed numerous times by my disabled mother who can no longer drive. It has taken a beating but still works good

I have not had any major problems with the van. I would have liked it to be more economical being a Toyota.

Amy W

If you buy used have a mechanic check it out thoroughly before you buy it.

I don't like that the wheel sensors are too sensitive and it seems like as soon as we hit 120,000 miles everything started breaking.

Taylor M

It is a minivan so it is great for a family vacation with many people.

Very old car. It is a great family car because it is a minivan. Great for moving and big shopping. Does not use a lot of gas as long as you do not accelerate at a ridiculous pace.

Olivia A

The Toyota sienna will be reliable for a least 200, 000 miles!

Our Toyota sienna has been an extremely reliable family vehicle. There's plenty of space for children as well as for adults. We love the ability to fold down the rest row of seats for extra storage.

What Do Critics Say About the Sienna?

Consumer Reports finds the Sienna to be comfortable and well made with perfect owner satisfaction scores.
Edmunds gives the Sienna a 4.4/5 and likes the smooth suspension, but notes it’s a bit noisy.
Kelley Blue Book users rate the Sienna 4.6/5 and enjoy the tough interior that holds up to kids, but say the water pump wears out.

What Common Problems Does the 2006 Toyota Sienna Have?

Problems with the 2006 Toyota Sienna are relatively rare and include some steering issues, power door failures, and cracked dashes.

Leaks from the steering rack pinion seal are the most serious complaint showing up on some vans at around 90,000 miles. The only solution is to reseal the assembly, costing about $1,000.

Power sliding door failures are mentioned by some owners at roughly 75,000 miles. The motor or cables have worn out in some vans. Replacing the cables costs about $850, and a new motor is around $1,000.

Cracking dashes are a common complaint, happening on many Sienna’s at around 80,000 miles. Some owners replace the dash for around $1,000, while others install a dash cover for under $100.

There are 11 relatively minor recalls which mostly cover labels and corrosion. The most serious recall is for the shift lever assembly, which can allow the van to roll away while in park.

How Long Will the 2006 Toyota Sienna Last?

A properly maintained Sienna can last over 300,000 miles, which is 100,000 miles longer than the Dodge Grand Caravan. Regular annual maintenance costs are more affordable than other vans, at only $380 per year, according to Repair Pal.

Most 2006 Sienna’s will have over 100,000 miles, so buyers should be prepared to replace the water pump costing $725, air conditioning evaporator costing $650, and the ale shaft seal which costs $225.

Melanie R

Yes, it is reliable. It does not have any problems. I change the oil regularly and that is the only required maintenance.

Ken U

Yes, it is very reliable and we have very few problems with it. We had the power side door actuators failed and one of the power seats in the rear got stuck.

Costa M

Do not problems with this minivan is very safe for my family and anyone is very comfortable for my kids.

Christine H

It is unbelievably reliable. No problems at all. It has 191,000 miles on it, I have only had to do basic maintenance, such as tires, brakes, timing.

Amy N

Completely reliable. Other than the normal wear and tear - tires, brakes, battery - it is super duper reliable. One thing though, the power door (through normal wear and tear) has acted up and the button on the remote has malfunctioned twice. It is an easy fix, but hard for me to give up the time to schedule it.

Virginia V

Not really. The A/C works great. The automatic doors work well. And the windows go up and down just fine. It's working great!

Laurie C

I believe it may have a leak within the steering rack & pinion I've noticed a year in the gasket but no problems at all

Allen L

The 2006 Toyota Sienna is a reliable van. It has had some issues such as air condition problems and the automatic side door issues. Other than those it has been very reliable.

How Much Is the 2006 Toyota Sienna Worth?

Blue book values range from $5,600 – $6,325, making the Sienna $2,000 more expensive than a Nissan Quest or Chrysler Town & Country. When new, the price range was $23,775 to $32,930. Depreciation is better than average, losing only around 5% of its current value per year.

What are the Different Models of the Sienna?

There are four models of the Sienna available. Technology is good and was last updated for 2006, there’s a complete redesign for the 2010 model with a new infotainment system.

CE is the entry-level model with:

16-Inch Steel Wheels
Keyless Entry
Cloth Seating
AM/FM/CD Stereo System With 6 Speakers

LE is a step up adding:

Cruise Control
Heated Exterior Mirrors
Roof Rack

XLE is a good choice and has:

16-Inch Alloy Wheels
Power Sliding Doors & Liftgate
Three-Zone Climate Control

XLE Limited is the flagship luxury model with:

17-Inch Alloy Wheels
Leather Seating
Parking Assistance
Adaptive Cruise Control
Moonroof

215 HP 23-23 MPG

View Details

215 HP 20-20 MPG

View Details

XLE

215 HP 20-20 MPG

View Details

XLE Limited

215 HP 20-20 MPG

View Details

What Engines Come In the Sienna?

The only engine offered in the Sienna is an average powered 3.3L V6 which has 215 horsepower and gets up to 19 MPG combined. Performance is similar to other vans taking 8.6 seconds to go from 0-60 MPH.

What Colors Does the Sienna Come In?

How Big Is the Sienna?

The 2006 Toyota Sienna is an average sized minivan similar to the Mazda MPV and Kia Sedona. Passenger space is fantastic throughout the cabin with room for adults in all 3 rows.

Cargo space is great, offering 43.6 cubic feet of room behind the third row, 94.5 behind the second, and up to 148.9 with both rear rows folded flat.

How Does the Sienna Compare to the Competition?

The Honda Odyssey is the closest competitor costing around $1000 less. Where the Odyssey stands out is with better performance, but the Sienna has lower ownership costs. We recommend the Sienna since they last a bit longer, but both are good vans.

The Chrysler Pacifica is another popular rival with prices starting at $2,000 less. Interior materials are more luxurious in the Pacifica, but the Sienna is more spacious. We recommend going with a Sienna which has significantly fewer complaints from owners.

Ranks #1 Minivans by Owners

2006 Toyota Sienna

4.42

2006 Honda Odyssey

4.34

Tie

2006 Nissan Quest

4.2

Do Owners Recommend the Toyota Sienna?

Melanie R

Yes, it has over 135k miles and is very reliable. Tires, brakes and oil change are the only required maintenance.

Ken U

Yes it is a very good vehicle. Dependable, versatile and comfortable. We love the color except the bumper paint top coat is peeling.

Costa M

Yes is good for me and my family is big and good the engineers no problems the space is good for me.

Christine H

It is wonderful. It has 191,000 miles on it and has very few issues. As a matter of fact, everything has been basic maintenance.

Amy N

Absolutely! It starts every morning in the winter, the heating and a/c work quickly, I feel safe while driving, I can fit 3 bikes in the back if I load them carefully.

Rebecca L

Yes, excellent! I love all the Hidey holes for things. There are wonderful little places to stash things everywhere and plenty of cup holders!

Sandra E

Great best van I've ever owned I purchased it used it drives like new it is surprisingly great on gas I drive at least 40-70 miles a day and has given me no issues

Ryan J

The 2006 Toyota Sienna is a great vehicle. It still runs great. There have been a few minor issues, but above all it is a good vehicle.

Owner Reviews

Write a Review

T. E. on December 28, 2023

2006 Sienna, bought brand new.

My Sienna as of today, 28 Dec., 2023 has just turned 429,000 miles. She runs like a champ and i will never buy a different kind of vehicle.

Alyson H on March 29, 2021

Very smooth and comfortable drive. The space inside is very great.

The very best car I have ever had in my life. I love the space I love the design I love the comfortable seats.

DL C on March 15, 2021

It's 12 years old, has over 140K miles and is still running great!

It drives like a car, has the best turning radius of any minivan I've driven, and I LOVE the heated seats. It fits all 8 of the people in my family, as well. Oh, and it has plenty of cup holders. :)

Tanya B on March 6, 2021

. It is just a simple minivan and can 'transport my sons wheelchair.

No complaints. It's a vehicle gets me where I'm going. Holds my family. And is comfortable for road trips for everyone.

david J on February 28, 2021

It is reliable and comfortable

7 passenger vehicle is convenient for parents as well.

Jenn B on February 21, 2021

It feels safe to drive. Safety is number one especially with my kids in the car.

I love having a van! It's very convenient with my kids, it's comfortable for us. The best part is the DVD player, it's a godsend. The 2 things I dislike are the driver seat and front seat passenger seat, they're uncomfortable and then there's the interior it's just a hideous color. Other than that, I absolutely love my vehicle.

marie T on February 21, 2021

About my car it is red and drives good. The tired are black.

There isn't much to tell about my vehicle. Just that it is a very two door car and drives really smooth. I don't have any problems with my vehicle at all. The tires on my car do feel small but there is nothing that can't be fixed. I try to keep it clean. My car is red.

Pamela C on February 20, 2021

Excellent reliable minivan.

This minivan has been a great purchase. I have not had any major repairs others than a muffler. Basic maintenance is cost effective. It drives great in the snow. Or is very comfortable and seats 7 people. The seats go completely flat in the back offering a huge area for groceries, moving or trips.

Amy T on February 18, 2021

This is a great family car. It can seat 8 people without being too crowded. It has tons of cup holders, space in the back, etc. Plus it is easy to convert the seats if you need more cargo space.

I love the handling of my vehicle. It has plenty of space for my family. The only thing I don't like about it is that the back windows have a very dark tint, and this makes it hard to see when backing up at night.

William A on February 17, 2021

It has good Mileage and has plenty of room also great options and handles well

It's very comfortable It's great in snow Its rides smooth

Jacob I on February 16, 2021

My back windows rolled down and a minivan, I love it

I am a one time owner of the van, runs very well never had any major issues with the van, it is a very reliable van witch has 260k miles on it, very quiet . It's very comfortable and roomy. Great for dogs and kids, road trips and around the city trips. Easy to keep clean and maintain with mechanical issues

Tina L on February 10, 2021

I love the auto opening/closing door. It's great for kids getting in and out of their own. I also love how big the trunk area is. I have a double and single stroller and they both fit. I dislike that the middle seats are so hard to take in and out.

It's perfect for anyone with more than 2 car seats or an older kid that can't fit between 2 car seats!

Lisa G on February 6, 2021

Very reliable for the long haul... Great family vehicle!

Power door stopped working, but overall performance has been excellent. Great investment! Very reliable for my 5 children and I. We have owned this vehicle for 13 years, it has 200,000 miles on it, and it is still very reliable and runs great. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone!

Megan F on January 28, 2021

Love the special features!

It has a ton of space. We have room for 3 large car seats and stuff for 3 kids and 2 adults for a week vacation. The van runs smooth and hasn't had any problems in the year we've owned it; just routine oil changes and such (done easily by my husband). The wheel wells are slowly deteriorating and will need to be replaced soon. That's about the only thing we've had a problem with. The all wheel drive is awesome for a snowy area. The extra features such as built in sun shades for the windows, DVD, and backup camera are very helpful!

Lisa X on January 26, 2021

Vehicle is overall in good working conditions. Low maintenance car.

Problems are sliding doors. If pulled on while on automatic then the button to open the door doesn't work and you have to manually click the door handle and give it a little push for the door to close while in automatic mode. If you put in drive while the door is closing the door will swing open until you put in park. Good on performance, reliability, comfort, and features.

Sherri D on January 25, 2021

Awesome vehicle with great features. I love my car!

Wish it had power door for the rear. Love my vehicle otherwise

Tammy S on January 20, 2021

Spacious for medium to larger family. Priced right and reliable.

Plenty of room when traveling with a family. Van is comfortable and was reasonable priced

Shawna H on January 19, 2021

We just recently purchased this vehicle, and we are very pleased with its performance. My one complaint is that only one of the sliding doors is automatic. I have found this more irritating than I thought it would be as sometimes my hands are full when I need to close the door and that can be quite tricky. However, we love how roomy it is! It has eight seats and our children, who keep getting taller, and very pleased with the amount of legroom that they have.

This care seems very reliable, and our mechanic told us that it should last us until our kids graduate from high school, which will be about 11 years.

Amanda C on January 15, 2021

That it has a lot of room. It's got a lot of power for a van.

I like that it's got a lot of room. I like the bucket seats. I like the way it looks.

cathy b on January 8, 2021

Very dependable. Will last a long time.

I like my van because it is reliable. It has not needed much work. It is very dependable. We have owned it for more than 10 years without major issues. I dislike that it does not have bluetooth.

Robert M on December 20, 2020

IT IS A VERY RELIABLE VEHICLE.WITH 144,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.

The Sienna has always performed well. It is a good, all-around vehicle for everyday use. However, for long drives, we prefer our Mercedes S430,and for off-roading, we like our Jeep.

Emily M on December 19, 2020

Great family vehicle, highly recommended.

I would recommend this vehicle to friends and family who are looking for a family car. Lots of space but still gets pretty good gas mileage. Also runs smooth and is not too loud. My family has had this van for many years and it is reliable and makes me feel like my family is safe.

Carolyn S on December 11, 2020

It's a ramp van that was specifically modified for a disabled person.

I like the size, and space of this vehicle. Also, its a disability vehicle with a ramp so my husbands wheelchair can easily be rolled into it.

Robin G on December 7, 2020

It has lots of functionality, great for carrying vacation stuff, can hold furniture and building material. It's convenient that the seats fold down.

I like that it has a lot of room, decent fuel economy, is reliable, and enduring. I dislike that it is old, and the tires wear unevenly.

D'Ann S on November 30, 2020

It is very dependable and it is owned outright by us

Has plenty of room, drives fairly smooth, madewell, great for traveling, carries lots of items for traveling, very dependable

Jennifer O on November 30, 2020

The vehicle has been crashed numerous times by my disabled mother who can no longer drive. It has taken a beating but still works good

I have not had any major problems with the van. I would have liked it to be more economical being a Toyota.

Kim N on November 29, 2020

Rides nicely, lots of storage.

The van handles and turns well. There are a lot of compartments for storage. It is comfortable and sits up higher.

Lisa S on November 20, 2020

Excellent Running Vehicle With Leather Seating For 7 People

I like that the van runs perfectly. It's very comfortable. It's too old.

Salma A on November 16, 2020

Good experience with Toyota sienna.

I love my car. Even we plan to buy a newer model this year for domestic travels, we decided to keep it. We bought it as used car. The car had a bad smell by the time we bought it due to water flooding. So, it was in excellent condition but we spent only $3000 on it because of that smell that we know how to remove. We bought it in 2016 and it is 2019 now and we have no issues at all with our car. We take good care of it though. We drove it for more than 100k since the day we bought it.

larry t on November 10, 2020

I has great safety features, including curtain airbags.

Love the van. It's biggest draw backers is the shocks. Also their automatic doors stick. I wish it was newer.

Lynn H on November 9, 2020

Very little maintenance on the van. All we needed to do was change to timing belt and a small problem with the airbags

Air bags all around. Smooth drive. Lots of room. No complaints.

Rebekah A on November 6, 2020

Toyota sienna 06 review great car

I love my Toyota I have a 06 sienna and it is amazing has a aux cord placement and has great volume I love the way the car looks as well very updated

Hagen D on October 29, 2020

Toyota Sienna Highlights!

This vehicle has ran great for the past few years. There have been a few problems that have came about such as; power door not working, power door sliding off rail, and some seatbelt problems. All of which are fixable and don't weigh you down too much. All around this vehicle is great and should be a go to for anybody that needs the space or a nice family vehicle.

Kathy B on October 27, 2020

Wheelchair accessible. Dual air control. Cruise control.

My Toyota Sienna is a wheelchair accessible van. It is spacious, it has a back seat, room for 3. A regular van would have a middle that would be for 2 more people.

Jeanne N on October 25, 2020

Lots of space for a growing family

Perfect for our family of 5. Easy to stow seats. Great space for moving large items. Out 3 teenagers fit perfectly and lots of space for them to bring a friend along. Have not had any issues with vehicle since we purchased it used from a dealership. Would definitely recommend this vehicle to another family and will definitely purchase again

Bonnie R on October 22, 2020

Made very well for protection in an accident. I've experienced this first hand. A very sturdy vehicle!

I love the car. It feels very safe & drives very well & comfortably. My only dislike is the hatch. It's VERY hard to open & close & there's no automatic opener

Mike L on October 21, 2020

Expense of repairs, gas and maintenance.

It is not fuel economical. It looks good, but it is expensive. And the car is discontinued which is not good.

Tessa H on October 21, 2020

Excellent & reliable family van

This car works really well for being 12 years old. It is very reliable & will run as long as it is taken care of. There is plenty of room for carseats & space for everybody.

nikki r on October 14, 2020

SAFE AND RELIABLE EVEN AFTER TWELVE YEARS OLD. TOYOTA

Reliable, roomy, safe, performance, features added, drivetrain, options to choose from when purchasing, BRAND NAME

Lisa T on October 3, 2020

My mini van can take up to eight persons.

I like my vehicle because it's big and I can take my family out together with one car. I dislike about my vehicle is the gas mileage is kind of low therefore need more money to fill up.

Tammy I on October 3, 2020

Very low maintenance vehicle. Great gas mileage. Very dependable.

It gets great gas mileage. Very dependable vehicle. Low maintenance.

Gabriel M on September 23, 2020

It's a pretty good car for people who need to drive others around like soccer moms or something.

I like the amount of seats it has, so I can always put a lot of stuff in it. I don't like however that some things in it have degraded over time.

sarah B on September 21, 2020

I drives really well and can hold 7 people

I love that I can move the middle two bucket seats to any spot in the middle row. I love how the back row seats fold down to create floor space or up and leave room for a trunk. I like the way it drives.

MICHELLE A on September 14, 2020

Our repairs we did on our old faithful van

Other then notorious brake problems, we replaced the power steering line, battery every 2-4 years, tires twice, water pump, and timing belt, and another piece. Just overheated at the 13th year mark. Needs thermostat. Never before. I love the room, that I can have 7 others ride aboard. .

Sherri m on September 1, 2020

It's not just a mommy car! There is so much space, but it drives just like a sedan!

I love that I'm sitting up higher than in many vehicles. I thought I wouldn't like a minivan, but it's just like driving a car but with so much space inside! I like the manual doors, rather than automatic as well! I'm at 175.000 miles and plan on continuing for a long time to come!

Taylor M on August 28, 2020

It is a minivan so it is great for a family vacation with many people.

Very old car. It is a great family car because it is a minivan. Great for moving and big shopping. Does not use a lot of gas as long as you do not accelerate at a ridiculous pace.

Tamara N on August 25, 2020

It is a very reliable car. We have had no mechanical issues other than one window problem in over 11 years.

I have had our Toyota minivan for over 11 years and we love it. It has had no mechanical issues except for one window that didn't work and was easy to fix. It has ample space for our family of 5, plus lots of great storage area for luggage when we travel. It is easy to haul large items when we have helped others move. It is functional, reliable, and safe. We love it.

Ann S on August 23, 2020

It has been very reliable!

Very reliable car for the nine years that we have owned it--great family car for toting kids & their friends--back seats can fold down for storage--fun features like plenty of beverage holders, storage spots for magazines, etc. --gas a bit pricey.

Olivia A on August 10, 2020

The Toyota sienna will be reliable for a least 200, 000 miles!

Our Toyota sienna has been an extremely reliable family vehicle. There's plenty of space for children as well as for adults. We love the ability to fold down the rest row of seats for extra storage.

Joan J on August 6, 2020

Review of 2006 Toyota sienna.

The van rides very quietly. No problem the back seat folds down into the floor and the second row seat folds up which leaves a lot of room for storage. There is plenty of storage as well as cup holders. The options include an CD player, am/FM radio, it has a place for outside temps, sliding power doors on both sides.

Richard W on August 4, 2020

It's my home wherever I go.

It's amazing. Like a rolling living room. Great turning circle improvement over our previous model. All the amenities but none over the top or will leave you with a brick when it fails. Fits all 4 kids with room for backpacks and gear. I sometimes hang out in there because it's just a peaceful, quiet place to go.

Alex Showalter

Alex is an automotive enthusiast with over 15 years of experience in the used car market. He brings a wealth of knowledge to Vehicle History as our Staff Writer and has written hundreds of used car reviews helping buyers make informed purchasing decisions. He is a member of the Automotive Press Association, and keeps up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry. Over the years, he has driven hundreds of cars, working on many of them. His mechanical experience evolved from modifying off-road trucks as a teen to focusing on automotive electrical systems as he got older. He now specializes in reviewing used cars as an automotive journalist. Some of his favorite brands are Toyota and BMW. The Toyota Land Cruiser is one of his favorite vehicles of all time since they’re built to last forever and can go anywhere. One of his current cars is a Lexus LX570, built on the same platform as the 200-series Land Cruiser, but it’s a better value in the used market.